Are you someone who’s feeling a little (or maybe even a lot) self-conscious about your teeth? We get it. Teeth straightening can be a challenge and traditional braces can often seem like too much of an effort or expense, but luckily there are several alternatives out there that won’t break the bank, or require months and months of mouth torture! From clear aligners to retainer therapy – we’ve got you covered with our top five options for teeth straightening without braces.
How do crooked teeth develop?
Slanted teeth are either congenital or result from external influences that promote malocclusions.
Often it is also a combination of both, which over the years leads to a set of teeth that does not conform to the common ideal of beauty.
Not everyone is blessed with a textbook perfect set of teeth.
Common causes of odd teeth
As individual as the person himself, each set of teeth is unique. Therefore, there are many reasons that can lead to crooked teeth. In this list, I have compiled the most common ones for you:
Shape & alignment of the teeth
The shape of our teeth, of course, affects how our smile looks to other people. Depending on whether we:
- Too big or small teeth
- Too big or small jaw
- Too few or missing teeth
- Displaced & teeth
Owning, the condition of our dentition can affect the overall appearance & leading to crooked teeth.
Childhood Behavior
In addition to genetically determined tooth position, behaviors & habits can also affect the shape of teeth – especially during childhood.
Some such reasons for crooked teeth are:
- Sucking on the lip as a baby
- Sucking or sucking on the thumb or objects
- Failure of the tongue
- Early loss of baby teeth, resulting in adjacent teeth spreading out in the gap and blocking space for following teeth
Many of these habits from early childhood help shape your dental health into adulthood. And can be the cause of crooked teeth.
The behaviors of early childhood continue to have an effect into old age.
Important: A truly correct diagnosis & treatment is only available from a trained dentist. So use this guide on the Internet only for information and make best today an appointment with a professional.
What symptoms indicate malocclusions?
- Overbite or underbite
- Tooths that are behind or protruding due to crowding
- Difficult to close lips
How to avoid crooked teeth
There are various tips and tricks that you can use to counteract misalignment of the dentition or even avoid it altogether. So you can save the braces in the long run and enjoy a straight set of teeth.
Let wisdom teeth pull
Wisdom teeth can lead to crooked teeth if they are not extracted in time.
- This does not apply to everyone, but only to those whose wisdom teeth grow crookedly or whose teeth already have very little space in their mouths.
- To be able to intervene here in time, you should have your teeth regularly examined by the dentist.
Let your jaw x-ray to check whether you are a risk patient. If this is the case, it means: out with the wisdom teeth. Otherwise, you’ll have to make do with pain and displacement of your teeth in the long run.
Tip: Here you can read more about wisdom tooth surgery.
Close gaps
As an adult, you should make sure that any gaps between your teeth are closed so that existing teeth do not shift due to the sudden space.
- In children, it is quite normal and proper for baby teeth to fall out and make room for the following teeth.
- However, in adults, gaps between teeth are often caused by dental problems or injury (and in turn lead to more problems).
If a gap is not closed, existing teeth begin to migrate, leading to a crooked bite in the long run.
No longer sleep on your stomach
An important point that is actually one of the most common reasons for crooked teeth.
- In the prone position, the pillow puts considerable pressure on the face. As a result, the teeth are pressed inward and misalignment may occur in the long run.
- To avoid damage, it is therefore worthwhile to reconsider the sleeping position and a new sleeping position
This may be uncomfortable at first, but it brings the benefit of more beautiful teeth in the long run.
No sucking the thumb or objects
That children suck their thumb or pacifier is well known and should not be a permanent condition if you want to avoid malocclusions of the dentition.
- However, adolescents and some adults, also often look for objects to chew on and thus put pressure on the dentition.
- So be careful not to chew on pens or straws on a regular basis, especially in pressure situations.
Don’t rest your head on your hands:
Daily work at a desk can, in the long run, lead to postural problems that affect the teeth.
For example, if you assume a comfortable, forward-leaning position at your desk, this often results in resting your head on your hands, which in turn puts pressure on your teeth.
In the long term, this results in the teeth shifting inward and becoming misaligned, which is difficult to straighten.
However: crooked teeth cannot always be prevented even with these measures – which is why many people undergo cosmetic treatments to correct already existing misalignments.
Have crooked teeth straightened without braces
If your teeth are already misaligned and you would like to correct this blemish without resorting to braces, you should confidently consult an orthodontist to discuss your options
- Make sure it is a specialist who has completed the highest possible level of training in the field.
- It is equally important that it is indeed an orthodontist, i.e., a dentist who has completed advanced training to become an orthodontist.
The orthodontist specializes in jaw malocclusions and can correct them surgically.
The usual procedure
Explain to your doctor what bothers you about your teeth and what you would like to change.
He will then get a comprehensive picture of your teeth and jaw by performing examinations, taking impressions or taking X-rays.
Based on his resulting diagnosis, he will be able to see if your teeth can be corrected without braces and what options are available to do so.
Doing without braces does not always make sense
Sometimes braces are the best way to correct crooked teeth. So you should definitely follow your dentist’s advice.
If you have any doubts, it’s best to get a second opinion by having your teeth examined by another orthodontist as well.
Then choose the doctor who seems particularly trustworthy and competent. Often there are also options such as invisible braces (Invisalign or harmony splint).
Tip: There’s more info in this comprehensive guide to braces.
Compare is also worth it when it comes to costs
Let you above all also one or equal to several cost estimates give.
Comparing costs is almost always worthwhile.
These can vary significantly depending on the provider or dental lab, so a thorough comparison is definitely worthwhile.
To be on the safe side, you can also have the cost estimates checked by the dental association or by independent experts. Read more about the costs below.
Is straightening always advisable?
Your orthodontist can advise you in detail on this topic. Whether or not straightening is worthwhile depends on age and the extent of the damage.
The possible forms of therapy and the associated costs also play a role in the decision for or against straightening.
Can I also try to straighten my teeth myself?
No, crooked teeth should basically go to a competent doctor for treatment. Refrain from attempting to straighten on your own, as this will only lead to injury.
Alternatives to braces
The classic treatment method for crooked teeth is braces.
However, as this has many disadvantages in terms of hygiene and appearance, it is an unwelcome solution that many sufferers would like to avoid.
Nowadays there are many alternatives, so people with a desire for straight teeth can choose from various options that produce results at least as good as the classic braces.
The cosmetic teeth straightening
This procedure is used exclusively for adults, as it is a permanent solution.
- The affected teeth are ground down and then replaced with dental crowns & artificial teeth made of composite resin, which are custom molded and matched to the color of the dentition.
- Cosmetic tooth correction is used when slight malocclusions are eliminated or individual teeth are to be repaired.
It is thus, also due to the price of 50 to 500 euros per tooth, not a solution for the complete set of teeth, but is applied partially.
The ultimate price is based on the effort & duration.
The aligner
The aligner is a transparent splint that is precisely fitted to the particular dentition and worn over the teeth.
The splint pushes the teeth in the desired direction when worn regularly. It must be removed for eating and cleaning, and requires that the wearer be very conscientious about wearing it to actually see improvement in the allotted treatment time.
High cost & long duration
The splint costs from 4,000 euros upwards and must be worn for between 6 and 18 months, depending on the severity of the deformity.
The splint is barely visible, so it is particularly suitable for people who place a high value on aesthetics and find the classic splint “ugly.”
It should also be noted that the aligner is not used on children and adolescents, as their jaws are still developing and growing.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are very similar to traditional braces, but they have one significant advantage:
- The wires of lingual braces are attached to the inside of the dentition. Thus, it is not visible at all from the outside.
- Depending on how severe the malocclusion turns out, the braces are worn for six months to two years.
It is not removed in the meantime, and over time it ensures that the teeth are gently shifted in the right direction.
Care instructions & Cost
During the wearing period, care must be taken to ensure regular and thorough cleaning, for example with an electric toothbrush or an ultrasonic toothbrush without a moving brush head.
The lingual braces cost from 5,000 euros upwards and can be used for children from the age of ten and for adults. Even severe malocclusions can be corrected with them.
Until one has become accustomed to the braces, there may be slight speech disorders. Also, there is often irritation inside the mouth, because the tongue constantly bumps against the braces.
The retainer or tooth stabilizer
The retainer (or loose braces) is worn following dental treatment. Straightened teeth are held in place with it, ensuring that the treatment is successful overall
- Treatment with a retainer must take place for at least as long as the previous dental treatment.
- They come in the form of fixed wires that are attached to the back of the teeth, making them invisible from the outside.
Alternatively, retainers are also available as removable devices that are particularly easy to clean. The cost starts at 500 euros.
The veneers
Veneers are wafer-thin ceramic plates that are placed on the front of teeth to improve appearance.
They can be used for crooked, irregular, and discolored teeth.
There are different types of veneers, which are chosen depending on the initial situation. In terms of price, one must reckon with 500 to 1000 euros per tooth.
Tip: Read more about veneers here.
Palatal expansion
Palatal expansion is often performed on children and adolescents under the age of 15.
The reason for this is that the bones still give slightly at this age and the jaw can be shaped easily accordingly.
- In palatal expansion, a screw device is used, which is attached to the teeth.
- With a key, the device can be made smaller or larger, depending on how far the jaw should be widened.
This forces the teeth to have more space over time. The palatal expansion costs about 1000 euros.
In the beginning of the wearing period, there may be speech problems and irritation of the mucous membranes.
The Herbst Method
The Herbst Method uses a special appliance to straighten the jaw.
Multiple bands are attached to the teeth, ensuring that over time the lower jaw is pushed forward.
The first treatment results are visible within a few months. Used the fall method for people in which no more growth is expected.
Slanted teeth: who bears the costs for a tooth straightening?
The statutory health insurance companies only cover the costs of dental treatments for standard care (i.e. only if they are necessary for health reasons).
What the subsidies are always based on the degree of malposition. Slight malpositions are considered a cosmetic problem.
In that case, the costs are not covered.
When does health insurance cover?
Patients are classified by dentists and orthodontists into 5 degrees of severity.
Only from a pronounced malposition, i.e. from level 3, the costs are covered by the health insurance.
Cost coverage for children
For children under the age of 18, the costs are covered by the health insurance if there are impairments in speaking, chewing or breathing due to the malocclusion.
Supplementary dental insurance partially covers
It makes sense to take out private supplementary dental insurance. These cover the costs either in full or in part.
Depending on the selected tariff and the insurance company. So before you decide on a supplementary dental insurance, you should compare thoroughly and even get advice if necessary.
What options are there if you have no money for straightening?
In that case, it may be worthwhile to inquire at a university clinic. Perhaps there is a possibility that a student of dentistry will perform the treatment under supervision.
In this way you can save a lot of money. Moreover, if such procedures take place under supervision, the risk that something will actually go wrong is very small.
In certain cases, the hardship regulation applies and the health insurance company grants a double subsidy.
In case of doubt, always consult your doctor
Even if you feel well informed by advice sites on the Internet, they can not replace the consultation with the doctor.
So always consult a specialist if you have pain or need medical advice or examination. Only this is able to guide professional assistance with problems.
Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces are another alternative to traditional metal braces. They are made of clear or tooth-colored materials which make them less visible than metal braces
. This makes them a popular choice for those who may be self-conscious about wearing braces. Ceramic braces still have the same function as traditional braces, which is to correct tooth alignment and bite issues. However, they offer the additional benefit of being less noticeable, making them an attractive option for teens and adults alike.
While ceramic braces offer a less noticeable option for orthodontic treatment, they do come with some downsides. The clear or tooth-colored materials used in ceramic braces are more prone to staining than the metal used in traditional braces. This means that those who opt for ceramic braces may need to be especially vigilant about maintaining good oral hygiene habits to avoid discoloration. Additionally, because ceramic braces are made of more fragile materials than metal braces, they may be more prone to breakage if not cared for properly.
Despite these downsides, many people choose ceramic braces as their orthodontic treatment option. Not only do they provide a more aesthetically pleasing option for those who may be self-conscious about wearing braces, but they also offer the same benefits as traditional braces in terms of correcting tooth alignment and bite issues. Before choosing ceramic braces, it’s important to consult with your orthodontist to discuss whether they are the right option for your individual needs and lifestyle.
